Ward 5 nurses say staff shortages have resulted in untenable workloads, burnout and resignations. Photo: Liam Clayton / Gisborne Herald
Nurses at Gisborne Hospital have decided to strike later this month for better conditions.
Ward 5 nurses say staff shortages have resulted in untenable workloads, burnout and resignations.
Their union, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, said their employer Te Whatu Ora Tairāwhiti has ignored concerns for staff and patient safety.
Tai Rāwhiti delegate Christine Warrander says the current conditions are unsafe. She said the decision to strike wasn't made lightly.
"We literally are going home grateful that we have managed to get through the shift without significant harm coming to a patient.
"You're literally walking into the ward, anxious, you know? 'Are we actually going to be able to get through a shift without something happening to a patient?'"
She said the issues have been present for a while. A provisional improvement notice (PIN) was issued on 20 December for Ward 5. At the time, Te Whatu Ora said it would meet the PIN's conditions, including reducing the number of beds from 25 to 20 so staff did not get overwhelmed.
"Since… December, things have got worse," said Warrander. "We've lost more nurses. We're now going to be probably unable to deal with the workloads anymore."
The strike is set down for 1.30pm-2.30pm on 24 May.
In a statement, a Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand spokesperson said the agency was working to address staff vacancies with recruitment for more nurses, support assistants, and healthcare assistants.
This remained challenging due to national and international shortages and progress had taken longer than it would like, the statement said.
"Patient and staff safety remain our top priorities, and while we respect our staff’s right to take industrial action, our focus is on ensuring we have contingency plans in place."
Any expected impacts to services would be communicated to patients, staff and the community once the plans were worked through.